‘Dateline’ probes murder of former Arkansas State Senator Linda Collins

(NBC News) — Friday on “Dateline,” after former Arkansas State Senator Linda Collins is killed outside her home, detectives struggle to determine if her murder was connected to her political career.

Here is a preview of Dennis Murphy’s two-hour report, “The Hands of a Killer.”

It was late afternoon when the call went out over police frequencies. Former state senator Linda Collins had been found dead at her home. Murdered.

To Butch and his sister Tate, there was nothing that made a bit of sense.

TATE: My world just falls apart.

BUTCH: I couldn’t imagine.

Rumor quickly had it her killing was a political cover-up that went right to the top.

MITCH MCCOY: Bombshell. Two days later, another former senator in Oklahoma is found dead, in his home. That lit this case on fire.

At the marbled state courthouse in Little Rock, shock prevailed.

KEN YANG: Social media, the way it is now, everyone starts coming up with reasons.

Who would want to murder the former state senator?

Was the clue to be found in her political ties or her private life? With Linda Collins, those strands were deeply entwined.

SHERIFF BELL: We had to ignore a lot of outside interference in order to catch this killer.

Watch “Datline: The Hands of a Killer,” Friday at 9 p.m. on NBC4.

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